Trina Teele Artist

08/19/2026

"Tiger Lily" 12x16
This painting feels like the early start of something new for me. I think I know where it’s headed but I'm not ready to disclose.

I’ve lived with eleven cats in my adult life, usually 1-4 at a time. Lily was my longest-lived, making it well past 21. I have just one cat now, and she happens to look the most like Lily so there is a bit of both of them in this.

I was drawn to this pose because I love foreshortening, and that outstretched paw was hard to resist.

My process is often to go a little crazy with color and pattern and then slowly rein it back in. I think I’ve finally found the stopping point with this one.

After sharing so much of my life with cats, this portrait stirred up a wonderful mix of feelings and memories that I love finding in a painting.

08/16/2026

It may still be summer, but fall will be here before we know it! The next sessions of Get Yourself Painting are now open for registration. 🎨 More info at this link: https://www.chelmsfordarts.org/get-yourself-painting

08/14/2026

I may be a couple of days late for World Elephant Day, but elephants have been finding their way into my life and my paintings.

From the first time I looked into the eyes of a rescued elephant, I was struck by their sentience, their gentleness, their extraordinary presence, and the deep emotional bonds they form with one another.

Some of these photos are paintings I've created over the years, including majestic elephants paired with children and flowers. Others are memories from an unforgettable experience spending time with rescued elephants in Thailand. And most recently, I found myself surrounded by elephants again! 🐘 This time through the magical public art installation currently in Boston.

Real or imagined, painted or sculpted, elephants have a way of making us stop and pay attention.

So, two days late, but still worth celebrating. ❤️

08/09/2026

For our anniversary❤️, John and I spent the evening in Boston visiting the beautiful elephant sculptures along Commonwealth Mall. 🐘

It turned out to be almost the exact same hot, humid weather we had on our wedding day 39 years ago! We even passed several wedding parties having their photos taken on Boston Common, and I couldn't help but feel for the poor groomsmen in their suits.

It was such a nice change of pace to get out and do something different together. While they may not be living, breathing elephants, these incredible works of art captured so much of their beauty and spirit.

As an artist and an elephant lover, I found the exhibition magical. What fascinated me most was how one simple elephant form became the canvas for so many different artists. It's a wonderful reminder that art doesn't have to be complicated to be powerful. Sometimes a single shared idea, interpreted through many creative minds, can tell hundreds of different stories.

Real elephants will always have my heart, but these sculptures reminded me just how powerful art can be in capturing their grace, journey, and presence.

08/03/2026

Facebook reminded me of this painting today. I painted it more than two decades ago, yet the memories it holds still feel close.

Picasso once said, "Painting is just another way of keeping a diary." Looking at this painting today, I totally get what he meant.

It shows my two daughters exploring the shallow waters of Nantucket Harbor where my grandparents had a home. Looking at it now, I don't just remember what they looked like. I remember what it felt like to be their mother in those fleeting years.

One of the greatest gifts of being an artist is that a painting becomes more than a picture. It becomes an emotional doorway back to a moment, a feeling, or a season of life that might otherwise fade with time.

My daughters are grown now, but every once in a while, a painting lets me revisit those precious days again. For that, I'll always be grateful.

Has a painting ever transported you back to a special moment in your own life?

08/02/2026

July's painting challenge is complete! 🎨

I painted nearly every day throughout the month of July. It isn't always easy to keep up a daily painting practice, especially while on vacation, but that's exactly why I choose July for this yearly challenge.

Not every painting was a success, and that's part of the process. Some were definite duds! But I'm pretty happy with some of them. Working this way also gave me the freedom to explore different subjects and inspirations.

One thing I remembered is that I really prefer working larger. These little studies taught me a lot, but I'm looking forward to getting back into my studio and painting on a bigger scale.

Which one is your favorite?

07/20/2026

The journey is COMPLETE! 💙

A few weeks ago, this painting left my studio in Massachusetts and began its long journey to its new home in Switzerland. Today I received this wonderful message from its new owner:

"Finally I got my shipment and hung up your painting. I am very pleased. It is perfect."

As artists, we spend countless hours creating something that begins as a quiet idea in our hearts. Then, one day, it finds someone who sees a piece of their own story in it. That's the REAL gift.

This painting now hangs in a beautiful century-old home in the Swiss Alps, where grazing cows are part of the everyday landscape. Knowing it has found a home with someone who truly connected with it makes its journey across the ocean feel especially meaningful.

I'm so grateful to its new owner for sharing photos and allowing me to tell a small part of its journey.

Art has an amazing way of connecting people across oceans.

06/30/2026

I’ll be in my studio at the Chelmsford Center for the Arts during the festivities. Be sure to visit the annual Art Festival upstairs in the Ballroom and Gallery, then stop by my studio to see my latest paintings, browse my new collection of art cards, and say hello.

My artwork is also displayed throughout the CCA hallways. If one of those paintings catches your eye, I’d be happy to share the story behind it.

Whether you’re looking for an original painting, a set of art cards, or one of my cheerful $10 “Joy of Paint” paintings, I’d love to welcome you to my studio.

Hope to see you on the Fourth!

06/21/2026

A rare "just for me" painting session today. I wanted to keep things simple, but ended up surprising myself by pushing acrylics to behave exactly like oil paint. He’s not a standard New England squirrel, but I’d love to meet him anyway!
This felt sooooo good!

06/21/2026

A second print sold in two days! Love to learn of these things!

Click on the image for a larger view and to leave comments.